LSU game sparks fight, ends in shotgun blast

A friendly gathering to watch an LSU football last weekend nearly turned deadly when a seven-person brawl ended with a shotgun bang in Abita Springs.

Nobody was seriously injured in the melee that first started in a Mandeville home then erupted later in Ingram Estates off Harrison Avenue, Capt. George Bonnett, Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said.

The fight started at 22327 Ponderosa St. in Maplewood Estates in Mandeville, when Richard Adams, age and address unknown, Joseph Margiotta, 23, of Madisonville, Wes Berard, age and address unknown, Claude “Rudy” Horne, 19, of Mississippi, and Blake McKinney, 25, of Slidell, started to argue during the game against Mississippi State.

The origin of the fight is unknown, but it eventually stopped until hours later when Horne told Berard’s father, Tye Berard, about the incident, Bonnett said.

Looking for McKinney to even a score, the duo found him at the Ingram Estates home at 301 Anthony Ave. about 1:30 a.m., Bonnett said.

As McKinney came outside, Horne armed himself with a shotgun from his car, Bonnett said.

Horne then “swung the butt end at McKinney, but he missed,” Bonnett said.

In a scuffle that ensued the gun discharge, blowing out a window of a nearby vehicle, Bonnett said.

“It’s very fortunate someone wasn’t hurt or killed,” Bonnett said. “Swinging a shotgun like a baseball bat doesn’t mean it’s still not a shotgun.”

About a half dozen Sheriff’s Office cruisers soon arrived at the scene.

As police lights illuminated homes, many neighbors came outside to watch the investigation unfold.

Mckinney and Tye Berard were each arrested for fighting and second-degree battery, Bonnett said.

Horne was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

Wes Berard, Margiotta and Richard Adams were each issued summons to appear in court on fighting charges, Bonnett said.